Archibald Bissett Smith
Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve
- Register No.
- 1154 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (register: Temp. Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Naval Reserve all Royal Naval Reserve VCs →
- Date of action
- 10 March 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 24th May, 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- 19th December 1878 at Cults, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- on Tower Hill Memorial, London; the Otaki Shield and Travel Scholarship, and at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen
- Medal held by
- the P and O Steam Navigation Company,
Digest of citation
Lieutenant Smith was commanding SS Otaki, when around 2:30pm on 10th March 1917 she was sighted by the German raider, Moewe, in disguise. She was armed with four 5.9 in., one 4.1 in., and 22 pounder guns, and two torpedo tubes. The Otaki had only one 4.7 in., gun for defence purposes. The German ship kept the Otaki under observation for some time before calling upon her to stop. Lieutenant Smith refused and a short engagement of 20 minutes ensued at around 2000 yards. The Otaki hit the Moewe several times causing severe damage, including a fire which burned for three days. The Otaki, herself, received several casualties and was also burning fiercely. Lieutenant Smith gave the order to abandon ship, but he remained on board and went down with her. The British Colours were still flying. The Germans later described the engagement as, "a duel as gallant as naval history can relate."
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SMITH, Archibald Bissett. (reg No. 1154).
Lieutenant. Royal Naval Reserve.
London Gazetted on 24th May, 1919.
VC Medal's Custodian is the P and O Steam Navigation Company, 79, Pall Mall, London.
Born on 19th December 1878 at Cults, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Drowned on the 10th March 1917, when he went down with his ship, SS Otaki.
Memorials on Tower Hill Memorial, London; the Otaki Shield and Travel Scholarship, and at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen.
Digest of Citation reads: Lieutenant Smith was commanding SS Otaki, when around 2:30pm on 10th March 1917 she was sighted by the German raider, Moewe, in disguise. She was armed with four 5.9 in., one 4.1 in., and 22 pounder guns, and two torpedo tubes. The Otaki had only one 4.7 in., gun for defence purposes. The German ship kept the Otaki under observation for some time before calling upon her to stop. Lieutenant Smith refused and a short engagement of 20 minutes ensued at around 2000 yards. The Otaki hit the Moewe several times causing severe damage, including a fire which burned for three days. The Otaki, herself, received several casualties and was also burning fiercely. Lieutenant Smith gave the order to abandon ship, but he remained on board and went down with her. The British Colours were still flying. The Germans later described the engagement as, "a duel as gallant as naval history can relate."
79, Pall Mall, London.
Drowned on the 10th March 1917, when he went down with his ship,
SS Otaki.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Tower Hill Memorial, London; the Otaki Shield and Travel Scholarship, and at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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